Two current VCU students, two recent alums receive prestigious Fulbright awards

By William Lineberry
Honors College

Two current students and two recent alums from Virginia Commonwealth University have been selected for the Fulbright U.S. Student Program – one of the most competitive and prestigious scholarships in the country – for the 2026-27 academic year.

Established in 1946, the Fulbright program is sponsored by the federal government to increase understanding between Americans and the people of other countries. It operates in more than 140 countries, and more than 2,000 grants are awarded annually to graduating college seniors, graduate students and recent alums. Fulbright scholars receive funding to teach English abroad, conduct research, pursue creative projects or study for a graduate degree.

Here are the four VCU Fulbright recipients, and their travel destinations, for the 2026-27 academic year:

• Aya Caballero, a Ph.D. candidate in the School of Social Work, will travel to Jamaica.

  

• Maliha (Mal) Chowdhury, a spring 2025 graduate from the English Department in the College of Humanities and Sciences, will travel to Kazakhstan.

  

• Matthew Schroeder, an M.F.A. candidate in creative writing in the English Department, will travel to Bosnia and Herzegovina.

  

• Valerie Shcherbakov, a fall 2025 graduate from the Department of Kinesiology and Health Sciences in the College of Humanities and Sciences, will travel to Brazil.

“The achievements of these two exceptional students and two distinguished alumni underscore VCU’s ever-growing footprint on the global stage,” said Arturo Saavedra, M.D., Ph.D., executive vice president and provost. “By taking their diverse talents from Richmond to Jamaica, Kazakhstan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Brazil, these four Rams embody our institution’s commitment to fostering cross-cultural understanding and tackling world challenges. Their dedication not only elevates VCU’s international reputation but also demonstrates how our community continues to translate passion into transformative global impact.”

The recipients continue an upward trend of multiple honorees from VCU on an annual basis. Since the founding in 2006 of the VCU National Scholarship Office, which assists students in applying for national and international scholarships, more than 100 students and alums have received Fulbright scholarships.

Each Fulbright candidate for the 2026-27 cycle applied with the support and encouragement of the NSO. Current students and recent alums can visit the NSO website to register for information sessions, learn about other external funding opportunities and schedule an appointment with a staff member.

“We are so proud of our four newest Fulbrighters,” said Meredith Sisson, Ph.D., assistant director of the NSO. “They come from all corners of our campus and truly represent the best VCU has to offer. These students and alumni are shining examples of how creative, intelligent, curious and ambitious VCU students truly are. We at the National Scholarship Office are grateful for the opportunity to help our applicants open new doors for themselves and embark on new and exciting adventures.”